The
Official Rules of Indoor Soccer
| Rule 1 - The Field Of Play
See Official Field Diagram (page 9) and the unabridged edition for standard
dimensions for the field, goals and markings. | | Rule 2 - The Ball
The ball is size 4 indoor for U12 and below and size 5 for all others. | | | Rule 3 - The Players
Number: Teams U12 and below shall have no fewer than 5 or more than 7
players on the field at a time, including a goalkeeper. For above U12, no fewer
than 4 or more than 6 are allowed. During an Overtime Period, neither
team shall play with more than the minimum provided. In coed, the number of
males on the field of play may not exceed the number of females by more than 1,
not including the Goalkeeper.
Substitutions: Each team may substitute players freely; provided that (a)
players must substitute off the field of play or within the Touch Line in the
area of their Team Bench and (b) no substitutions are allowed during the first
3 seconds of a Shootout. | | | Rule 4 - The Players' Equipment
Players wear their team's uniform, consisting of the same colors, shin guards,
and indoor footwear. Jewelry and other accessories are prohibited. The
Goalkeeper wears jersey colors distinguished from all other field players and
from the Referees. | | Rule 5 - The Referee
The decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play and
interpretations of the Rules are final. | | Rule 6 - The Duration of the Game
A regulation game consists of two Halves, with duration according to “house rules”
and the following:
(a) Overtime Period and Tiebreaker: If, in a tournament or playoff, the game is
tied at the end of regulation, a 5-minute "sudden- death" Overtime
Period follows. If still tied, a Tiebreaker takes place, as described in Rule
12.
(b) Running Clock: Except in the case of an unusual delay, determined by the
Referee, the Game Clock counts down continuously through each Half or Overtime
Period.
|  | Rule 7 - The Start and Restart of Play
A Kickoff from the Center Mark starts play at the beginning of each Half and
after every goal. A player who starts play may not again play the ball until it
touches another player. The Home Team takes the Kickoff for the First Half
Kickoff and any Overtime Period, and the Visiting Team takes the Kickoff for the
Second Half. The Referee designates the teams’ defensive ends, according to
“house rules.” Restarts take place by either a Kickoff, Free Kick,
Goalkeeper Throw-In, or Dropped Ball. Other than for Kickoffs or as provided
below, Restarts occur within three feet (3') from the spot of the ball at the
moment of stoppage. A team receives a Free Kick after stoppages other than when
a Dropped Ball or Goalkeeper Throw-In is required. Before the team takes the
Free Kick, the ball must be stationary. All opposing players are at least 15
feet from the spot of the Free Kick (or, if within 15 feet of the opponent's
Goal, along the Goal Line). The spot of the Free Kick is that provided above,
except:
(a) Within Own Penalty Arch: from any spot therein.
(b) Within Opponent's Penalty Arch: at the Free Kick Mark ("Top of the
Arch").
(c) Delayed Penalty: (i) according to the ensuing stoppage, as normally
administered, or (ii) in case the defending team obtains possession of the ball
during play, at the spot of the original offense. (See unabridged Rules where
the original offense would have resulted in a Shootout.)
(d) Kick-In: from the point on the Touch Line nearest where the ball crossed
over the Perimeter Wall.
(e) Three-Line Violation: from the offending team's Restart Mark.
(f) Superstructure Violation: from the nearer Restart Mark. (See unabridged
Rules for additional exceptions.) If neither team has clear possession of the
ball at a stoppage, the Referee restarts play with a Dropped Ball. A Dropped
Ball caused while the ball is inside a Penalty Arch takes place at the Free
Kick Mark. Play restarts with a Goalkeeper Throw-in (or punt in U12
divisions and younger) anywhere within the Penalty Arch after an attacking
player has last touched the ball before crossing an end perimeter wall. |  | Rule 8 - The Ball In And Out Of Play
A Three-Line Violation occurs when a player propels the ball in the air across
the two Red Lines and the Halfway Line toward the opponent's Goal without
touching the Perimeter Wall, another player or a Referee on the field of play.
A Superstructure Violation occurs when the ball contacts any part of the
building above the field of play. | 
| Rule 9 - The Method of Scoring
A team scores a goal when the whole of the ball legally passes over the Goal
Line. A goal may be scored directly from a Kickoff or Restart. | | Rule 10 - Fouls and Other Violations
A Foul occurs if a player:
(a) Holds an opponent;
(b) Handles the ball (except by the Goalkeeper within his Penalty Arch);
(c) Plays in a dangerous manner;
(d) Slide tackles;
(e) Impedes the progress of an opponent ("Obstruction"), or
(f) Prevents the Goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands; and when a
player commits the following in a manner that the Referee considers careless,
serious, reckless, or involving excessive force:
(a) Kicks an opponent;
(b) Trips an opponent;
(c) Jumps at an opponent;
(d) Charges an opponent;
(e) Strikes or elbows an opponent; or
(f) Pushes an opponent. Unsporting Behavior: A Free Kick results for the following offenses:
(a) Leverage: Using the body of a teammate or any part of the field to gain an
advantage;
(b) Encroachment: Entering the protected area of an opposing player taking a
Free Kick (after initial Warning);
(c) Dissent: (i) Referee Abuse; (ii) Breach of Penalty Area Decorum; (iii)
Entering the Referee Crease without permission;
(d) Other: Behavior which, in the Referee's discretion, does not warrant
another category of penalty (e.g., taunting, foul language.)
Goalkeeper Violations: The opposing
team receives a Free Kick for the following violations by a Goalkeeper:
(a) Illegal Handling: Bringing the ball from outside of the Penalty Arch to his
hand within it, or receiving the ball again after a Goalkeeper Distribution
without the ball's having first touched another player (e.g., no drop-kicking
or bouncing the ball);
(b) Pass Back: Handling the ball, having been passed deliberately and directly
to him by a teammate; except that he may handle a ball which a teammate passes
to him by the head, chest, or knee and without "trickery" (the use of
a wall or foot to flick the ball to a head, chest, or knee before making the
pass);
(c) 5-Seconds: Controlling the ball with either his hand or foot inside of his
Penalty Arch for over five (5) seconds.
Team Violations: The Referee issues
a Team Penalty for the following violations by a team or unidentified person:
(a) Leaving Team Bench: Players leave a Team Bench to join a fracas or
confrontation with the opposition or a Game Official;
(b) Bench Dissent: After an initial "Warning," one or more
unidentifiable players verbally abuse the Referee.
(c) Other: Unsporting Behavior, which, in the Referee's discretion, does not
warrant another category of penalty.
Advantage Rule:
The Referee allows play to continue,
notwithstanding the commission of an offense, when the team against which it
has been committed will benefit from an existing offensive advantage.
Flagrant Fouls: A Shootout is awarded for the following Fouls committed
by a defender in his or her defensive half of the field:
(a) A Foul within the Penalty Arch or Goal for which he receives a Time
Penalty;
(b) A Foul from behind against an attacking player, having control of the ball
and one or no defensive players between himself and the Goal; and
(c) Any Foul where he or she is the last player on the team between the
attacking player with the ball and the Goal. Blue Card Offenses: Unless
otherwise provided below, the Referee issues a Blue Card for serious Fouls and
for:
(a) Deliberate Handball or Handball by a Goalkeeper;
(b) Goalkeeper Endangerment;
(c) Boarding;
(d) Unsporting Behavior by a player; and
(e) Team Violations.
Cautionable Offenses: The Referee issues a Yellow Card for reckless Fouls and
offenses described directly above, and for the following:
(a) Second Blue Card;
(b) Unsporting Behavior by any non-player personnel;
(c) Provoking Altercation: Making physical contact with an opponent (e.g.,
pushing or poking), short of fighting, or using the ball in so doing.
Ejectionable Offenses: A person receives a Red Card for Fouls and offenses
described directly above, which the Referee considers violent or use of
excessive force, and for:
(a) Third-Time Penalty;
(b) Elbowing: Intentionally elbowing an opponent above the shoulder;
(c) Vicious Slide Tackling: A tackle from the side or from behind directly into
one or both legs of an opponent, seriously endangering him;
(d) Fighting;
(e) Leaving Team Bench or Penalty Area to engage in a fracas or confrontation
with the opposition or a Game Official;
(f) Extreme Unsporting Behavior: Committing particularly despicable behavior,
including:
(i) Spitting at an opponent or any other person;
(ii) Persistent use of extremely abusive language or behavior toward a Game
Official;
(iii) Bodily contact with a Game Official in dissent. | 
| Rule 11 - Time Penalties
The following penalties apply to offenses for which a Card is issued (subject
to further action by the Administrative Authority):
(a) Blue Card: 2-minutes (i.e., in the Penalty Area)
(b) Yellow Card: 2-minutes for a second carded offense and 4-minutes (2 + 2)
for a straight Yellow;
(c) Red Card: 2-minutes (for accumulation) or 5-minutes (other), plus ejection.
Players are designated by their teams to serve Time Penalties of their team,
their Goalkeeper, non-player personnel, and of teammates who receive Red Cards.
Otherwise, the person who commits a carded offense serves the penalty. Players
serving Time Penalties serve their Time Penalties, seated, until their
expiration and the Referee permits their release. Short-Handed Play: For each
Time Penalty being served by a player, his team plays with one fewer field
player until its expiration; provided that a team may not have fewer than the
minimum required, regardless of the number serving Time Penalties. Should a
player receive a Time Penalty, while two or more teammates are already in the
Penalty Area, his team continues to play with the minimum while he joins his
teammates in the Area.
Exceptions: Under the following circumstances, Time Penalties either
expire prior to their completed countdown, or have the beginning of their
countdowns delayed:
(a) Powerplay Goal: If a team is scored upon having fewer players on the field
of play, due to one or more players serving Time Penalties, a player from the
team is released from the Penalty Area into the field of play, unless otherwise
prohibited, and the player's Penalty or Penalties are wiped out. If the team
has two players in the Penalty Area, only the player whose Time Penalty or
Penalties are recorded earlier is affected.
(b) Multiple Penalties: If two teammates are serving Time Penalties when
another teammate is penalized, his Time Penalty does not begin to count down
until at least one of the teammates' Time Penalties has expired and his Time
Penalty is next to begin.
(c) Simultaneous Ejections: When two simultaneous Red Cards carrying the same
Time Penalties are assessed to opposing players, their Time Penalties are not
served.
(d) Maximum Time Penalty: No player may receive more than 5 minutes for
penalties arising at the same time on the Game Clock, irrespective of the
number or nature of accumulated offenses or the fact that one or more teammates
may be designated to serve such time.
(e) End of Game: All Time Penalties carry over between periods and expire at
the end of the game.
Delayed Penalty: In instances where the Referee would issue a Blue Card
or a Yellow Card, but for the Advantage Rule, he acknowledges the offense by
holding the Card above his head until the earlier to occur of the following:
(a) Opponent's Possession: The team of the offending player gains control of
the ball;
(b) Stoppage: The Referee stops play for any reason. Once play is stopped, the
offense is recorded and assessed, as customary. In the event of a powerplay
goal, the Time Penalty is not served and the provisions above regarding early
release from the Penalty Area remain applicable.
| 
| Rule 12 - Shootouts and Penalty Kicks
Shootout: For a Shootout:
(a) Any player may take the Shootout;
(b) All players serving Time Penalties are seated in their appropriate Penalty
Area. All players of the attacking team stand behind the Halfway Line and
outside of the Center Circle. Players of the defending team stand behind the
Halfway Line and inside of the Center Circle;
(c) The ball is placed at the Restart Mark nearer the attacking Goal;
(d) The Goalkeeper has at least one foot on his Goal Line and may not move off
of it until after the Referee whistles the Shootout to begin;
(e) Once the Referee whistles the Shootout to begin, the ball is "in
play" and the player taking the Shootout plays the ball. Penalty Kick: A
Penalty Kick proceeds the same as a Shootout except
(a) The ball is placed at the Free-Kick Mark;
(b) The Goalkeeper has at least one foot on his Goal Line until the ball is in
play; and
(c) The player taking the Penalty Kick may not touch the ball again until after
touching another player.
Tiebreaker: A Tiebreaker proceeds by Shootouts, except that:
(a) The Referee designates the Goal at which both teams shoot and the team
which shoots first (according to administrative policy);
(b) All players, other than the player taking the shot and the defending
Goalkeeper, remain within their Team Bench areas;
(c) Both teams have up to 3 shots, with players from each team kicking
alternately;
(d) If, at any time, a team obtains a 2-goal advantage, the Tiebreaker ceases
and the winner is declared;
(e) If, after both teams have taken 3 shots, neither has an advantage, the
Tiebreaker continues, alternating one player at a time, until both teams have
taken an equal number of shots and one team has scored when the other has not;
(f) The player has 5 seconds to score after the Referee's whistle. |
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